Help first time user of Audacity.
Are the moving green and red bars in the Meter toolbar supposed reduced and lengthened in size, to enable visual control the input volume ?
My problem is ... I can record , add to my iPod, but top end sounds are distorted.
I have tried about everything to reduce the input volume, no luck...ready to return to shop ^^%$#&*&.
Meter toolbar
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Audacity 1.2.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.
The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
Audacity 1.2.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.
The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
Re: Meter toolbar
The red bars show the recording level and the green bars show the playback level. You should adjust the recording level so that the red bars extend to a maximum of -12dB or more, but should never extend all the way to the end (0dB). If they extend up to 0dB they will leave a little red line at the right hand end of the scale (odB) that indicates that you have recorded too loud and that digital clipping (distortion) has occured.
Distortion can occur even if the red meter bars do not extend all the way up to 0dB. This will happen if the audio is already distorted before it gets to Audacity. A typical cause of this effect is if a powerful signal is fed into a very sensitive input, for example a line level signal into a microphone input. In this case, the signal overloads the input and becomes distorted. Audacity then receives this distorted signal and no matter how loud or quiet it is it remains distorted.
Tell us a bit about what you are recording and how you are recording it. What equipment, computer, operating system... too much detail is better than not enough.
Distortion can occur even if the red meter bars do not extend all the way up to 0dB. This will happen if the audio is already distorted before it gets to Audacity. A typical cause of this effect is if a powerful signal is fed into a very sensitive input, for example a line level signal into a microphone input. In this case, the signal overloads the input and becomes distorted. Audacity then receives this distorted signal and no matter how loud or quiet it is it remains distorted.
Tell us a bit about what you are recording and how you are recording it. What equipment, computer, operating system... too much detail is better than not enough.
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Re: Meter toolbar
Thanx for answering Steve
I'm running windows Xp with service pack 3..Intel dual core with 4gb of ram.
My turntable is a Fission brand with USB connection, with Sigmatel audio.
As I understand it you are saying I should be able to control the red and green bars by moving the sliders in the volume and microphone boxes.
I've tried all cobinations in the Preferences but I stil can't get any control over the length of the red and greem bars.
My input box only offers MICROPHONE.
Could I have a problemwith the audio medium ?
I'm running windows Xp with service pack 3..Intel dual core with 4gb of ram.
My turntable is a Fission brand with USB connection, with Sigmatel audio.
As I understand it you are saying I should be able to control the red and green bars by moving the sliders in the volume and microphone boxes.
I've tried all cobinations in the Preferences but I stil can't get any control over the length of the red and greem bars.
My input box only offers MICROPHONE.
Could I have a problemwith the audio medium ?
-
waxcylinder
- Forum Staff
- Posts: 14687
- Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:03 am
- Operating System: Windows 10
Re: Meter toolbar
When you are using a USB TT Audacity hands over control of the sound services to the USB device - so I would expect the sliders not to work to control the signal level.
Instead I would expect to have to control the signal level at the USB TT itself - if you are lucky your TT will have a gain control (volume control) - have a good look at and read the manual that came with it.
See this page in the Wiki on USB TTs: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/USB_turntables
WC
Instead I would expect to have to control the signal level at the USB TT itself - if you are lucky your TT will have a gain control (volume control) - have a good look at and read the manual that came with it.
See this page in the Wiki on USB TTs: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/USB_turntables
WC
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